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Priest arrested on harassment, gun charges
From Ronni Berke
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Police found guns, a stash of money, pornography and Nazi paraphernalia at the home of a Roman Catholic priest after they came to arrest him for allegedly making harassing phone calls to a Brooklyn high school, law enforcement officials said. The Rev. John Johnston, 64, was charged with aggravated harassment in the phone call case and with criminal possession of a weapon, according to a police statement. Law enforcement sources said Johnston made harassing phone calls to the Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn. A school official, who asked not to be identified, told CNN the calls were "offensive but not threatening." The same sources said that when police went to his home Tuesday night they found at least three guns -- one of them unlicensed -- an undetermined amount of cash, pornography and Nazi paraphernalia. James Goodness, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Newark, said Johnston taught religion, English and history at the Oratory Preparatory School in Summit, New Jersey, for 23 years before he left in June, intending to retire. Goodness said that in all the years of working at the Oratory School, a boys' prep school, Johnston never exhibited any strange or offensive behavior. "We knew nothing about guns or anything," Goodness said. "We're entirely shocked. It is also very sad." Though he taught in Newark, Johnston was a part of the Diocese of Brooklyn, where he was ordained in 1964, said a spokesman for that diocese, Frank DeRosa. He said the diocese had no record of allegations, charges or complaints against Johnston. "That's why it's a shock and we're stunned by the news," DeRosa said. He said he did not know of any connection between Johnston and Bishop Loughlin High School. Goodness said Oratory Preparatory School officials were drafting a note to send to students' parents and would make counseling available for anyone who needed it. Police and the Brooklyn district attorney, Charles Hynes, were investigating the case, law enforcement sources said. Johnston was being held at the 88th Precinct in Fort Greene, in Brooklyn, awaiting arraignment.
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